Roberto Firmino almost pounced on eight minutes when intercepting a poor square pass but eventually struck his shot tamely at Augsburg goalkeeper Marwin Hitz.

Midway through the half, Philippe Coutinho gave Sturridge a glimmer but Ragnar Klavan blocked and the ball bounced through to a grateful Hitz.

Augsburg, already missing several key players, lost another when top scorer Raul Bobadilla, with six goals in this season's Europa League, limped off with a hamstring problem.

But the Bundesliga side should have been ahead in first-half injury time when Alexander Esswein was sent clear but the midfielder, after cutting inside, saw his shot smothered by Mignolet.

A lethargic Liverpool lacked the verve of their dismantling of Aston Villa four days earlier, although they started the second half brighter with Coutinho firing wide after a clever combination with Alberto Moreno.

And the Reds should have been ahead on 53 minutes when a fine move ended with James Milner crossing low from the right and Sturridge failing to connect properly from a matter of yards out with the goal gaping.

Liverpool began knocking louder and, after Kolo Toure completely missed his attempted header from a teasing Moreno free-kick delivery, Paul Verhaegh almost put the loose ball through his own goal.

On 71 minutes, Moreno came close with a speculative, swerving strike from range that Hitz scrambled over the crossbar.

Augsburg then threatened but substitute Caiuby couldn't quite get a telling touch on a shot from Kostas Stafylidis after a cross from the right.

Liverpool had a lucky escape four minutes from time when, from Caiuby's header down, Augbsurg substitute Ji struck the outside of the post.

But the goalless draw means there will be plenty to play for at Anfield next week, reports the Liverpool Echo .